Winter Maladies: Natural Approaches
June Russell's Health Facts
Smoking - Vitamins/Nutrients
Smokers are more likely than nonsmokers to make less-healthy dietary choices
and to be deficient in vitamin C, the vitamin needed to fight off colds and lower the
risk of disease.
{“Many Americans - particularly smokers - lack vitamin C,
“Reuters Health, healthcentral.com - October 2000}
Smoking lowers vitamin C levels in the body.
{People’s Pharmacy, Show
#300, Public Radio, Feb. 12, 2000}
Beta-carotene was once thought to reduce the risk of cancer, but research has shown it may actually increase lung cancer in smokers. Now scientists find that this nutrient may also promote the recurrence of colon polyps in people who smoke or drink alcohol. Those who avoid alcohol and tobacco appear to benefit from beta-carotene.
{People’s Pharmacy, May 24, 2003, PBS radio}